The strong inflow of visitors was due to Qatar hosting the major sporting event – FIFA World Cup, first in the Middle East and the Arab world.

According to the Kuwait-based think-tank, over 2.5 million people visited the region during the World Cup, of which hosts Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia were significant beneficiaries in terms of tourism.

In the Middle East, bookings between Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Oman, as well as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, also increased because international travellers lodged in these countries and then shuttled to Qatar for specific matches.

Strong offline representation in Asia Pacific and European countries, alongside widespread marketing campaigns help highlight the country’s tailored visitor offerings.

‘Qatar Now,’ which debuted earlier this year, is available at various traveller touchpoints across the country, including hotels, museums, and Hamad International Airport (HIA).

Among the benefits provided by Egypt is the adoption of visa facilities for entry to Egypt for holders of Hayya card attending the World Cup in Qatar, similar to what was done during the period of resumption of tourism movement during the coronavirus pandemic.

That these world-class events are taking place “at home” is an important chapter in sporting and cultural history and a matter of undeniable pride for millons across the Middle East and North Africa.

The fact that Dubai has already established itself as a tourism destination has helped it to become a suitable option for football fans.

Hamad International Airport (HIA) and Doha International Airport (DIA) launch dedicated facilities to departing passengers during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Some soccer fan clubs have already said they’ll be commuting to Qatar during the cup on 45-minute flights from Dubai, the skyscraper-studded, beachfront city-state in the United Arab Emirates.